Self-latching automatic railway-switch.



J. N. W. PORTER.

SELF LATCHING AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13,1908.

927,677. Patented July 13, 1909.

JAMES N. W. PORTER, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

SELF-LATGHING AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed January 13, 1908. Serial No. 410,616.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES N. W. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk, State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Self-Latching Automatic Railway-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic railway switches, and more particularly to switches especially designed for use upon electric or other tramway lines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be absolutely reliable, and which shall operate automatically u on the approach of a car or train to shift t e switch point to either desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide car-carried means under the control of the motorman for operating the switch mechanism,and to so arrange the several elements that the switch may be accurately set to the desired position without a knowledge of its previous position.

A further object is to provide a switch mechanism of this character in which it will be impossible for the switch point to remain in an intermediate or inoperative position.

A further object is to provide a switch operating mechanism, which, while automatically latching the point against accidental displacement, yet ermits of the switch being readily operated by hand in the ordinary manner, and also allows the point to be shift ed by a wheel trailing through from the heel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism fulfilling the above requirements and at the same time comprising in its organization the fewest practical number of parts, combined in the simplest and most durable manner possible.

With the above and other objects in View, and to improve generally upon the details of such apparatus, my invention consists in the construction and arrangement hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a railway track equipped with my improved switch mechamsm, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through part of the operating mechanism, the section being taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is aninverted plan view of the switch plate hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing, in addition, the actuating shoes carried by the car.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates a switch point, B the rails of the main line and C the rails of the'branch line. Attached to theswitch point A is a'connecting bar 1, adjustably secured at its other end to a crank 2 carried by a rock shaft 3, which is suitably journaled in bearings located beneath the surface of the street. These parts are all preferably protected by suitable housings. The bar 1 is formed intermediate its ends with a plurality of transverse crimps 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the urpose of which will be hereinafter described At the opposite end of the rock shaft 3, which may be of any suitable length, is mounted a rocker 4, which, as shown in the drawings, comprises a substantially semicylindrical member cut away on each side of the shaft 3 so as to form shoulders 4, shown in Fig. 5. A casing 5 surrounds the rocker, and is provided with a cover or switch plate 6, which closely fits over the same so as to exclude the dirt, and projects slightly above the level of the street.

Working in guides 6, depending from the bottom of the switch plate 6, is a pair of vertically dis osed plungers 7, 8, so arranged 4 as clearly that their ower ends abut against the shoulders 4, 4*, respectively, of the rocker 4. A spring late 9, secured to the under side of the switc 1 plate 6 by means of a screw 10, projects through openings in the plungers and serves to normally and resiliently hold them in their uppermost position. Suitable shoes 12 are mounted beneath the car, preferably on the truck, and are adapted to engage one or the other of the lungers 7 and 8. N 0 special means is shown or supporting or operating these shoes, since they may be located according to the re uirements of the particular form of truck wit 1 which they are associated, and may be operated either by means of a lever, or by fluid ressure, in a well known manner. Particu ar attention is directed to the sha e and arrangement of these shoes 12. As 0 early shown in Fig. 2, they are preferably formed of resilient metal bent into the form of an elongated bow, and are su ported with their forward endhigher than t ieir rear end, whereby, when in operative osition their under side presents a gradua l inclined surface. This type of shoe will readily slide over any obstructions which it may encounter, and together with the rounded upper ends of the plungers 7 and 8, results in a smooth operation of the switch, and prevents sudden strains or shocks, and brea age of the parts. In order to further lessen the liability of breakage, I have provided the crim s 1 in the connecting bar 1, as shown. 7 ile I have illustrated only two of these crimps, which are preferably V-shaped, it will be understood, of course, that any desired number may be employed. The provision of a plurality of these crimps, however, results in rendering the bar longitudinally resilient, so that it has a tendency to absorb shocks and to preventthe deleterious effect which might otherwise result from the impact of the shoes on the plungers. But these crimps 1"* have also another and important function. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, I arrange a wedge-shaped latch 11 immediately beneath one of the crimps, in such relation thereto that, as the switch is moved from one position to the other, the crimp snaps over the latch from one side of the ridge to the other, and thus serves to hold the switch yieldingly in whichever position it may be thrown. It will also be observed that owing to the angular relation of the parts of the crimp and latch, it is impossible for the switch point to remain in an intermediate or inoperative position. The crim will, of necessity, slide down one side or t e other .of the latch 11, and thereby cause the switch to always occupy one of its extreme ositions. It will be further noted that the atch 11 may be arranged to cooperate with any one of the crimps desired. In this way, if one crimp becomes worn the latch may, by simply shifting the same slightly, be made to cooperate with another and unworn crimp. Thus the life of the apparatus is greatly increased.

While I have shown and described my improved mechanism as applied to a switch consistingof but a sin le point, it is obvious that it may be aswel adapted for use in a construction having two pivoted switch points. i

It will thus be seenthat I have provided an exceedingly simple and efficient operating mechanism for switches, and it is thought the numerous advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is 1. In a switch mechanism, a rock shaft, a crank carried thereby, and aresilient recilprocatory bar connecting said crank with t 1e switch point, said bar being provided, intermediate its ends, with a transverse, V-sha ed crimp, and a fixed V-shaped latch locate in the path of movement of said crimp, and

over which said crimp is adapted to snap as the switch is moved.

2. In a switch mechanism, an operating device, a reciprocating bar connecting said operating devlce with the switch point and provided with a transverse \l -shaped crimp, and a fixed rigid latch over which said crimp is adapted to snap as the switch point is moved.

3. In a switch mechanism, an operating device, a bar connecting said device with the switch point and formed with a plurality of transverse V-shaped crim s, and a fixed latch over which one of sai crim s is adapted to snap as the switch is mover said latch being ca able of adjustment so as to cooperate wit any desired one of said crimps.

4. In a switch mechanism, an operating device, a bar between the same and the switch point and provided intermediate its ends with a V-shaped projection, and a wedge-shaped latch over which said projection is a apted to snap as the switch is moved, one of said parts being resilient, and

serving to prevent the switch point remainmg in an intermediate position. I

5. In a switch mechanism, a rock-shaft, an operative connection between the same and the switch point, a rocker carried by said shaft and provided with flat upper surfaces or shoulders on opposite sides thereof, a pair of plungers having their ends arranged to abut against said shoulders, and means carried by a car for actuating said plungers. 6. In a switch mechanism, a rock shaft, an o erative connection between the same and t e switch point, a rocker carried by said shaft, a fixed plate overlying said rocker, a pair of springprotected plungers slidably mounted in said plate and arranged to abut said rocker, and means carriedby a car for actuating one or the other of said plungers. 7. In a switch mechanism, an operating device connected with the switch point, and a pair of vertically disposed plungers arranged to engage and move said operating device, said plungers being slidably mounted in a fixed plate and having rounded ends pro- 'ecting above such plate, and means carried y the carfor actuating one or the other of said plungers as desired, such means comprising adpair of spring metal bows suitably supporte beneath the car, and presenting a gradually inclined lower surface adapted to en age said plungers and de ress the same. 11 testimony whereof, I lave hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. N. W. PORTER.

Witnesses:

P. J. MALBON,

FRANK E. IXILLAM. 

